Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Barack Obama, and Britain's Prince Charles attend a D-Day commemoration at the US military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2009. The result of Thursday's UK general election could have a profound impact on US-British relations.

Ever since Winston Churchill spoke of a “special relationship” between the US and the United Kingdom more than 60 years ago, the phrase has been used to describe relations between two countries that have stuck by each other’s side right through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But if the Liberal Democrats led by the surprisingly strong Nick Clegg somehow come out on top, the phrase “special relationship” is likely to be retired to the history books, alongside the unequaled ties forged in the war years of Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mr. Clegg has made it clear that he sees Britain’s future with Europe more than with the US.